University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum Museum, University of Nebraska State 1975 Stratigraphic Occurrences of Teleoceras with a New KimballianSpecies from Nebraska Lloyd G. Tanner Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletin Part of the Entomology Commons, Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, Paleontology Commons, and the Sedimentology Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. BULLETIN OF VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1, PART 2 The University of Nebraska State of Museum FEBRUARY, 1975 Lloyd G. Tanner Stratigraphic Occurrences of Teleoceras with a New Kimballian Species from Nebraska Frontispiece-View of U.N.S.M. Coil. Loc. Ft-40, Kimball Formation, Ogallala Group (Pliocene), Frontier County, Nebraska. The photograph shows the quarry when the overburden was being removed in 1947. The letters A, B, and C show approxi­ mate locations where important specimens were found. A shows the approximate place where the holotype of Amebelodon fricki Barbour was found in 1927. The holotypes of Te/eoceras schultzi Tanner, new species; Aphelops kimballensis Tanner; and ?Tapirus simpsoni Schultz, Martin, and Corner were also from this area of the quarry. B shows the approxi­ mate spot where the holotype of Barbourofelis fricki Schultz, Schultz, and Martin was discovered. This latter specimen was found in a small local channel, which had been cut into the very fossiliferous cross-bedded channel sands. C is at the approximate site where the holotype of a new species of Prosthennops (Macrogens) was discovered (described in Pt. 3 of this Bulletin). 0 shows Terrace 2B fill , the site of U.N. S.M. Coli. Loc. Ft-41 , the Early Man Lime Creek Site (see Schultz, Lueninghoener, and Frankforter, 1948; Schultz and Frankforter, 1948; Davis, E. Mott, 1962). Photograph by C. Bertrand Schultz. Lloyd G. Tanner CENOZOIC MAMMALS FROM THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS Part 2 Stratigraphic Occurrences of Teleoceras, with a New Kimballian Species from Nebraska BULLETIN OF The University of Nebraska State Museum VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1, PART 2 FEBRUARY, 1975 BULLETIN OF VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1, PART 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM FEBRUARY, 1975 Pp. 23-33, Tables 1-4 Frontispiece, Figs. 1-6 ABSTRACT Part 2. Stratigraphic Occurrences of Teleoceras, with a New Kimballian Species from Nebraska Lloyd G. Tanner Study of Te/eoceras remains in the University of Nebraska State Museum indicates that this specialized, short-limbed rhinoceros inhabited the Central Great Plains from Early through Late Pliocene. Previously thought to have become extinct at the end of the middle Pliocene, this genus is now known from the very latest Pliocene. A new species, Te/eoceras schultz;, is de­ scribed from the Kimball Formation, Ogallala Group, Frontier County, Nebraska. CONTRIBUTION OF The Department of Geology, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology of the Museum. Tanner1 Stratigraphic Occurrences of Teleoceras, with a New Kimballian Species from Nebraska2 INTRODUCTION evolution is considered to be a new species, Te/eoceras schultzi (Fig. 1, A). Study of the evidence regarding the short­ Skinner, Skinner, and Gooris (1968, p. 431) limbed rhinoceros, Teleoceras, from Upper Ter­ clarified a misconception of some researchers tiary deposits of the Great Plains Area indicates regarding the genotype material for Teleoceras. that this fossil rhinoceros evolved from a rela­ They pointed out that Teleoceras major Hatcher tively small animal to a large, robust form. The had priority over Teleoceras fossiger (Cope) and smallest, most primitive Teleoceras has been also presented evidence that the two species found in the Valentinian and Lower Ash Hollow were collected from different stratigraphic sediments (Skinner, Skinner, Gooris, 1968, p. levels. Teleoceras major was collected from 431) and has not been adequately studied; there­ Clarendonian, Lower Ash Hollow, deposits and fore only the generic identifications are given. Teleoceras fossiger was recovered from the The largest of the species is recorded from the upper portion of the Middle Ash Hollow (Hem­ Kimballian (see Schultz, Schultz, and Martin, phillian). Both Teleoceras and Aphelops are 1970, pp. 123-128 for discussion of the use of usually found in most Late Cenozoic Quarries in this Provincial Age name). The Teleoceras, as did the Great Plains and adjacent areas, especially the other rhinoceroses, became extinct on the from the Hemphillian. North American continent near the close of the Present understanding of the stratigraphie oc­ Kimballian. This final stage of Teleoceras currences of the Late Cenozoic succession of species for these genera is shown below: 1Coordinator of Systematic Collections, University of Ne­ Kimballian Aphelops kimballensis Teleoceras schultzi n. sp. braska State Museum, Research Associate in Vertebrate U. Hemphillian Aphe/ops longinaris Teleoceras hicksi Paleontology, and Assistant Professor of Geology. Hemphillian Aphelops mutilus Teloceras fossiger Clarendonian Aphelops malacorhinus Teleoceras major 21n the present paper "Pliocene" includes the Valentini an, Valentinian Aphelops sp. Teleoceras sp., Clarendonian, Hemphillian, and Kimballian provincial ages, Skinner 1968 although the writers realize that the Kimballian may be equiv­ alent to the very late Miocene of Europe. See Part 1, p. 2 of The interpretation used in this chart regarding the present Bulletin for further remarks on this subject. the stratigraphic occurrences of Teleoceras is 24 / BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM based mainly on the fossil evidence observed in composite hind foot from the Edson Quarry (U. the University of Nebraska State Museum fossil K.3817). vertebrate collections. Teleoceras hicksi, from the upper Hemphillian Some objection may be raised as to the use of deposits of Wray County, Colorado, is consid­ Hemphillian for the occurrence of Teleoceras ered to be specifically different from Teleoceras fossiger. Matthew (1932, p. 435) states that fossiger. Teleoceras hicksi appears to be the an­ Teleoceras is not recorded at the Coffee Ranch cestral form for Teleoceras schultzi. Two Ne­ Locality but further indicates that it is found as­ braska specimens, a skull, U.N.S.M. 62095, and sociated with Aphelops in other Pliocene de­ lower jaw, U.N.S.M. 62099 (Fig. 1, B) from posits (Higgins Quarry B). Skinner, Skinner, and U.N.S.M. Coil. Loc. Gd-104, have been referred Gooris (1968, p. 431) concur that Teleoceras fos­ to Teleoceras hicksi. siger came from deposits comparable to middle Hemphillian. SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS The Edson Quarries of Sherman County, Kan­ sas, have yielded Teleoceras remains which are Class: MAMMALIA comparable to T. fossiger. Hibbard (1934, p. 247). Order: PERISSODACTYLA in his faunal assemblage from the Edson Quar­ ries of Sherman County, Kansas, lists Aphelops Family: RHINOCEROTIDAE cf. A. mutilus Matthew as coming from the de­ Genus: Teleoceras posits which were dated by M. K. Elias as middle Pliocene in age. More recently Frye, Leonard, Te/eoceras schultzi,3 new species and Swineford (1956, p. 30) discussed the Edson Quarry Local Fauna and its relation to the Holotype.-U.N.S.M. 5800, left mandibular stratigraphy of the Ogallala Formation of north­ ramus with I, P3-M3 (Fig. 1A, Table 1). Lacks por­ ern Kansas. They placed the stratigraphic hori­ tion of ascending ramus and condyle. zon of the Edson Local Fauna in the upper part Type Locality.-U.N.S.M. Coil. Loc. Ft-40 = of the Ash Hollow Member of the Ogallala For­ "Amebelodon fricki Quarry," (E. 1/2, SW. 114, SE. mation. They state that the Kimball-Ash Hollow 114, Sec. 15, T. 5N., R. 26W.), 8 mi. N. and 5 mi. W. contact was not present at this locality, but infer­ of Cambridge in Frontier County, Nebraska. red that this contact " ... may be only a few feet above the position of the fauna." Stratigraphic Occurrence.-Upper Pliocene, The faunal lists from the Edson Fossil Locality Ogallala Group, Kimball Formation, Sidney of Sherman County, Kansas, prepared by Hib­ Member from channel deposits which rest on bard (1935, p. 247) and reviewed by Robert W. upper part of Ash Hollow Formation. Wilson for Frye, Leonard, and Swineford (1956, Paratypes.-Skull, partial, lacking frontal­ p. 30), when compared to the faunal list prepared nasal area on both sides and dental series an­ by Matthew and Sti rton (1930a, p. 172) from the terior to upper molar two, U.N.S.M. 62103; skull Coffee Ranch Quarry, "Locality 20," indicated fragment, occipital portion with posterior half of that there are eleven genera and species in left zygomatic arch, U.N.S.M. 62098. common between these two localities. Matthew and Stirton (1930, p. 366) make the Locality of Paratype Specimens.-U.N.S.M. comparison of the Hemphill County, Texas, 62103 and U.N.S.M. 62098 are from U.N.S.M. "Locality 20" local fauna with the Snake Creek Coil. Loc. Ft-40 (E. 1/2, SW. 114, SE. 114, Sec. 15, T. assemblage, and demonstrate that there is a dis­ 5N., R. 26W.), 8 mi. N. and 5 mi. W. of Cambridge tinct similarity in the vertebrate fauna from these in Frontier County, Nebraska. two localities. The composite hind foot illustrated by 3Named in honor of Professor C. Bertrand Schultz, Curator Matthew (1932, p. 429) from the Coffee Ranch of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Nebraska State Locality 20 is nearly identical in size to a Museum, and Director of the Museum, 1941-1973. STRATIGRAPHIC OCCURRENCES OF TELEOCERAS, WITH A NEW KIMSALLIAN SPECIES / 25 ~~. ...~~ -- c---~----. - ~ ----.-------- --------------------- Fig. 1-Mandibular rami (occlusal and labial views): A, Teleoceras schultzi, new species, holotype, U.N.S.M. 5800, Kimball Formation, Ogallala Group (Pliocene), Frontier County,Nebraska; S, Teleoceras hicksi, referred, U.N.S.M.